Fabric spreading means



June 27, 1939. w. H. HALL, JR

FABRIC SPREADING MEANS Original Filed OCt. 13, 19156l 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 fra/ma?? Zd Al Q.

w. H. HALL, JR

FABRIC SPREADING MEANS June. 27, 1939.

1s, 1936 :s sheets-sheet 2 Original Filed 001'.t

wml-afg@ u? June 27, 1939. W, HQHALL, JR 2,164,241

FABRIC SPREADING MEANS Original Filed Oct. l5, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 227, 179-39l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FABLRIC SPREADING MEANS William H. Hall, Jr., Trenton, N. J., assignor to Thermoid Company, Trenton, N. J., a corporation of Delaware 4 Claims.

This invention relates to fabric spreading mechanism for use in looms, and more particularly looms capable of weaving pile carpet double, wherein base fabrics for two independent carpets are simultaneously woven in superposed relation to each other with separators therebetween and with pile-forming threads extending from one to the other of the base fabrics to be subsequently cut in a plane intermediate the two base fabrics ,for separating the two carpets and producing a ncut pile formation on one face of each, as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 105,428, iiled October 13, 1936, of which the present application is a division.

The mechanism forming the subject matter of the present invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, in more or less diagrammatic form, illustrating the mechanism of the present invention as applied to a loom of the type noted;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1 and illustrating mechanism for 25 for spreading the fabric laterally Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 6-6, Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 1-'I, Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic plan View showing the spreading mechanism in relation to the fabric as the fabric is being woven.

A loom of the type above noted normally comprises a breast beam I, and a pivoted lay 2 provided with the usual reed 4. The lay 2 is normally rocked about its pivot 3 by a crank shaft (not shown) The crank shaft is connected to the lay by the usual form of connecting rod.

The loom also normally includes a series of heddle frames illustrated at 5, 5, l, 8, 9 and IU respectively. These heddle frames are normally raised and lowered in predetermined relationship to each other while the lay is in the front-center position, in order to provide an open warp shed for the reception of the filling shuttle (not shown) which is shot transversely across the loom when the lay moves to the back-center position.

The raising and lowering of the heddle frames 5 to I0 inclusive, in predetermined relationship to each other, is normally produced by a series of cams individual to the heddle frames and mounted on a common shaft which is driven at a predetermined speed with respect to the oscillations of the lay 2. This mechanism is common in the type of loom noted and is well known to those familiar with the weaving art and for that reason has not been, illustrated in the present instance.

The loom also includes the usual whip roll Il 10" and warp guide roll I2 about which the warp threads pass in normally extending from a warp beam at the rear of the loom to and through the heddles of the frames 5 to I0 inclusive and through the dents in the lay reed 4, to the fell 15 of the fabric at the front of the loom.

On the front upper corner of the breast beam I and extending transversely of the loom, and normally mounted for rotation in suitable bearings carried by the breast beam I or by the main 20 frame of the loom, is a guide roll I5 over which the finished fabric passes.

The loom also includes the usual form of pin roll I l, and guide rolls Il around which the fabric also passes. The fabric is taken up intermittently, i. e., for each beat-up motion of the lay or for each pick, by the pin roll I6, which maintains the fabric and the warp threads under tension. The rolls I6 and I'I are suitably mounted for rotation in the side frames of the loom.

The loom is also provided with fabric guide rolls I8 and I9 and a mandrel 2U on which the completed fabric is wound, said mandrel being driven in any suitable manner to wind the fabric step by step as it is advanced from the fell by the intermittent movements of the pin roll I6.

In the present instance, the usual warp beam is supplanted by a suitable rack of any well known type and upon which is mounted a series of cones, bobbins, spools or other yarn packages 2| containing warp threads a, which constitute the warp threads for the lowermost of the two base fabrics. The rack also supports a series of yarn packages 22 composed of threads b which constitute the Warp threads for the uppermost base fabric. Also carried by the rack is a plurality of yarn packages 23 which supply the pile forming warps c.

The warps a, b and c respectively pass through guide or separating plates 24, 25 and 26 from the 50 bobbins 2I, 22 and 23 respectively to guide rolls 21, 28 and 29. The guide plates 24, 25 and 23 are provided with suitable relatively spaced openings or perforations through which the warp threads a., b and c pass and by which the threads 'ried by heddle wires 41 and 48.

of each group thereof are retained in predetermined relation to each other for presentation to the guide rolls 21, 28 and 29. From the guide rolls 21, 28 and 29 the groups of warp threads a, b and c pass around tensioning rolls 3|, 32 and 33 respectively.

From the tensioning roll 3| the Warp threads a pass to and around a guide roll 34 and in soA doing said warp threads pass through and between the threads a, where said group of threads lie in passing from the guide plate 24 to the guide roll 21.

The threads a pass from the guide roll 34 to and over a fixed supporting bar 35, which is disposed adjacent and parallel to the guide roll I2. The bar 35 is provided with a series of vertical pins 36 which are spaced apart longitudinally of the support 35 which latter extends transversely of the loom and is supported in any suitable manner by the main frames of the loom.

The warp threads b pass from the tensioning roll 32 through that portion of the group of threads b which extends between the guide roll 28 and the tensioning roll 32, said threads b then passing to the support 35 and between the guide pins 36 thereon, which maintains the threads b in predetermined relation to the thread a for delivery to the guide roll I2 and Whip roll I of the loom.

The pile warp threads c pass` from the tensioning roll 33 through the group c where said group extends from the guide roll 29 to the tension roll 33 and from this intersecting point directly to and through heddle eyes 31.

The heddle eyes 31 are carried by heddle wires 38 which in turn are carried by the heddle frame 6, in the present instance, said threads passing from the heddle eyes 31 to the fell of the fabric.

From the whip roll II the warp threads a and b respectively pass under and over a separating bar 39, then over and under a second separating bar 40. The two groups of threads cross each other and pass through each other between the' bars 39 and 40 as illustrated in Fig. 1.

From the bar40 the warp threads a pass to and through heddle eyes 4I and 42 carried by heddle wires 43 and 44 respectively. The wires 43 and 44 are carried by the heddle frames 9 and I0 respectively. The warp threads a pass from said heddle eyes 4| and 42 through the dents in the reed 4 of the lay 2, to the lower base fabric A at the fell The warp threads b pass from the separating bar 40 to heddle eyes 45 and 46 which are car- These heddle wires are carried by the heddle frames 1 and 8 respectively. The warp threads b` pass from the heddle eyes 45 and 46 through the dents in the lay reed 4 to the upper base fabric B at the fell fr.

The fabrics A and B are maintained in vertically spaced relation to each other by separating blades 50, said blades being arranged in latally spaced relation to each other, and disposed horizontally between a rearwardly projecting lip 5| of the breast beam I and a transversely extending bar 52 which is arranged above. and in spaced relation to the upper surface of the breast beam to provide a guideway 53 -for the separating blades 50.

The blades 50, 5|J extend longitudinally of the loom and are arranged to move longitudinally through the guideway 53, with the double fabric A-B, during the beat-up movement of the lay to the front-center positionand to be retracted slightly in the opposite direction during the movement of the lay to the back-center position, as will be more fully disclosed hereinafter.

The separating blades are of a vertical depth corresponding to twice the height of the pile required on each of the fabrics A and B, said separating blades being arranged in vertical planes and -spaced laterally to provide spaces therebetween through which the pile warps c pass in extending from the lower base fabric A to the upper base fabric B and vice versa to produce the interconnecting pile area C between said fabrics A and B.

Each of the spacing blades is provided with a relatively movable section 55. The movable sections 55, 55 of the spacing blades 50, 50 are pivotally connected to the back ends of the spacing blade 50, 50 respectively and rise and fall with an inpredeterrnined relation to the warp threads a, b and c.

The two base fabrics A and B, after being woven at the fell X ride longitudinally along the lower and upper edges respectively of the blades 50 and are separated by the vertical width of the blades 50, which determines the length of the pile tufts t0 be formed by the pile threads c in each case as the threads c, c pass across the pile region C between the two fabrics. 'I'he double pile fabric composed of the two base fabrics and interconnecting pile threads rides off the rear ends of the spacing blades 50 as the pin roll I6 takes off the fabric, step by step, with the beatup movements of the lay 2.

The rear end of the movable section 55 of each spacing blade 50 is pivotally connected to heddle blades which are mounted in the heddle frame 5, disposed immediately behind the lay 2 when said lay is in its back-center position above noted.

At times, during the weaving of double pile fabric or, and especially, during the weaving of a heading between the ends of two lengths or strips of the fabric, wherein the pile-forming Warps are oated beneath the lowermost of the two superposed base fabrics which at that time are being woven more or less as separate fabrics connected together only at the selvage edges thereof by the weft or filling thread woven first into one and then into the other of the base fabrics at alternate picks respectively, the fabric tends to wrinkle in the direction of the warps, i. e., the selvage edges tend to move inwardly toward each other and cause the fabric to become wrinkled therebetween. These wrinkles extend longitudinally of the fabric through the heading and, in some cases, for some distance into the pile section which is woven subsequent to the heading.

In order to overcome the above noted longitudinal wrinkling of the fabric, the loom is provided, between the guide bar 52 for the base fabric spacers 50 and the guide roll I5 over which the composite fabric A-B-C passes after weav ing, with a spreading device |30.

The spreading device |30 comprises a plurality of peripherally toothed wheels |3| which are spaced apart cross the breast beam and disposed in positions to contact with the fabric. The spreader wheels I3I are arranged in two series I3Ia and |3Ib. The wheels of each series are disposed in substantially parallel planes with the planes of the wheels of the one series arranged at acute angles to the plane of the fabric and breast plate and pointing toward one edge of the fabric, while the planes of the wheels of the other series are arranged at reversely corre- Vsponding acute angles:` to the fabric and 'breast plate and point toward the opposite Selvages sothat the two series are in opposed relation to each other with the planes of the twoA series of wheels in divergent relation to the longitudinal center line of the fabric and to a vertical plane coincident with the longitudinal center line of the fabric, i. e., a line substantially equidistant from the opposite disposed selvages of the fabric.

Each wheel |3| is provided around its periphery with a series of radially extending circumferentially spaced teeth |32 which are adapted to engage the fabric A-B-C for example, inside relatively spaced chain warps of the upper base fabric B, between successive Wefts thereof; and when the heading is being Woven the teeth |32 may project through the top base fabric B into the lower base fabric A and engage the chain warps and wefts thereof in a similar man ner. In either case the divergent relation of the wheels as the fabric is taken up step by step by tlie pin roll I6 keeps spreading the fabric laterally from the center line thereof toward the oppositey selvage edges thereof.

A valuable advantage of the above resides in the fact that in addition to keeping the fabric from wrinkling it permits the use of a lesser number of warp ends across the fabric to maintain a predetermined Width to the fabric than can normally be used to produce a fabric of equal width, with a resulting saving in the cost of material to the manufacturer.

The wheels |3| are each mounted for free rotation on and about the axis of a` Common supporting shaft or tie rod |33 and are held in definite spaced relation to each other along said shaft by spacing sleeves |34, |34, a center sleeve |35, and end sleeves |36, |36, all of which are suitably secured to the tie rod |33, as for example, by tapered dowel pins |31.

The opposite ends of the spacing sleeves |34 are cut at corresponding and parallel angles to the axis of the sleeve and the ends of the central sleeve |35 are cut at corresponding angles arranged in opposed relation to each other. The angular ends of adjacent spacer sleeves hold the spreader Wheels definitely in the divergent planes desired and permits the wheels to turn freely.

In order to permit the wheels |3| to turn freely on the tie bar |33 while arranged at an angle to the axis of the tie bar the body portion of each wheel is provided with a frustoconical bore |38 having.the larger diameter end or mouth of the conical opening disposed at one end of the wheel.

and the smaller diameter end or throat of the conical opening disposed at the opposite end of the wheel, or, in some instances, for example as shown in Fig. 7 where the Wheel is provided with an axial extension or hub |39, at a plane intermediate the opposite ends of the wheel, with a similar frusto-conical opening extending inwardly from said opposite end of the wheel and having its smaller diameter end coinciding with the smaller end of the rst said conical opening at said intermediate plane. In such case, each wheel |3| has a pair of bearing surfaces |43 and |4| respectively contacting the upper and lower sides of the tie rod |33 and permitting the wheel to turn about an axis common to both of the opposed conical ends of the bore at an angle to the axis `of the tie rod |33.

At each of the opposite ends of the spreading device |30 there is a cylindrical sleeve |42 which encircles the tie rod |3| beyond the end sleeves or may not be doweled to the rod |33` as desired.

`In the present instance, the cylindrical sleeves |42 are gripped between the end sleeves |36,|36 and washers |43,|43 on the tie rod |33 by nuts |44, |44 threaded onto the opposite ends respec-` tively of the tie rod |3|.

The cylindrical sleeves |42, |42 are mounted in bearings |45, |45 respectively which are secured tothe breast beam by screws |46, |4'6.

The sleeves |42, |42, and consequently the whole of the assemblage mounted on the tie rod |33 is adjustable axially and rotationally in the bearings |45 to vary the angle of divergency of the spreader wheels |3| with respect to the center line of the fabric.

The wheels |3| are maintained in their adjusted positions by set screws |41, |41 threaded into the bearings |45, |45 and engaging the cylindrical sleeves |42, 42 respectively.

I claim:

1. In a loom for weaving fabric comprising longitudinal warps and transverse wefts, means for advancing the woven fabric warpwise from the fell, a support extending across the fabric from side to side thereof, fabric engaging elements mounted on said support for free rotation about axes disposed at angles to the axis of said support and arranged in divergent angular relation to the center line of the fabric and in divergent relation to a pla-ne perpendicular to the plane of the fabric and coinciding with said center line for spreading the fabric weftwise during said advancement thereof, and means affording rotary adjustability of said support about its own axis for varying said angle of divergency of said spreading elements.

2. In a loom for weaving fabric comprising longitudinal warps and transverse wefts, means for advancing the woven fabric warpwise from the fell, and means comprising two groups each comprising a plurality of separate relatively spaced toothed wheels independently rotatably mounted above and in contact with the fabric with the wheels of the two groups arranged oppositely in divergent angular relation to the center line of the fabric for spreading the fabric weftwise during said advancement thereof.

3. In a loom for Weaving fabric comprising longitudinal warps and transverse wefts, means for advancing the woven fabric warpwise from the fell, means comp-rising two groups each comprising a plurality of separate relatively spaced toothed wheels independently rotatably mounted above and'in contact with the fabric with the wheels of the two groups arranged oppositely in divergent angular relation to the center line of the fabric for spreading the fabric weftwise during said advancement thereof, a tie rod extending through relatively larger openings in said wheels with the axes of said wheels disposed at angles to the axis of said rod, spacer sleeves on said rod intermediate said wheels and provided with end surfaces disposed at an angle to the axis of the rod and maintaining said wheels in angular relation to said rod, and means for adjustably supporting said tie rod in predetermined relation to said fabric.

4. In a loom for weaving fabric ycomprising longitudinal warps and transverse Wefts, means for advancing the woven fabric warpwise from the fell, means comprising two groups each comprising a plurality of separate relatively spaced toothed wheels independently rotatably mounted above and in contact with the fabric with the |36, |36, respectively. The sleeves |42, |42'mayf wheels of the two groups.' arranged oppositely in divergent angular relation to the center line of the fabric for spreading the fabric Weftwise during said advancement thereof, a tie rod extending through relatively larger openings in said wheels with the axes of said wheel disposed at angles to the axis of said rod, spacer sleeves on said rod intermediate said wheel and provided with end surfaces disposed at an angle to the 

